Manufacture of chenille



Nov. 20, 1934. J. MoRToN MANUFACTURE OF CHENILLE s sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 14,*.1931

lpql@ NOV. l2.0, 1934 J. Mom-0N 1,981,741

MANUFACTURE OF CHEN I LLE Filed sept. 14, 1931 s sheets-sheet s PatentedNov. 20, 1934 1,981,741 l MANUFACTURE F CHENILLE James Morton, CramondBridge, West Lothian,

Scotland Application September 14, 1931, Serial No. 562,795 In GreatBritain October 1, 1930 27 Claims.

`This invention relates to the manufacture of chenille (sometimesreferred to as fur) for use in the manufacture of pile fabrics, such ascarpets, rugs, hangings and the like. Fur of this kind is usually madeby producing first of all a weft cloth, or so called preparatory cloth,and then cutting this cloth into strips which constitute the chenille.The weaving of the preparatory cloth necessitates the employment ofVspecial weaving looms, and these are expensive to obtain and also tomaintain in operation, so that the manufacturing cost of preparatorycloth is proportionately high.

The main object of the present invention is to manufacture chenillepreparatory clothv by simple operationsI involving the use of adhesiveas the sole means of binding together the threads composing the cloth,thereby avoiding the use of weaving machinery in the manufacture of saidcloth.

It is of course customary to make use of adhesive in themanufacture offabrics by `weaving, but there the adhesive is merely yan aid to theweaving operation and is usually washed out of the fabric aftercompletion of the weaving. In the manufacture according to the presentinvention, the adhesive is the only means whereby the threads composinga preparatory,

cloth, and strips of chenille cut therefrom, are bound together.

An object of the invention is the manufacture of chenille preparatorycloth comprising a sheet of pile threads and a number of spaced binderssecured to said threads by adhesive.

Another object of the invention is the manufacture of strips of chenilleeach consisting of a succession of pile tufts secured solely by adhesiveto a longitudinal binder.

Another object of the invention is a method of manufacturing preparatorycloth for cutting into strips of chenille, said method comprising theoperations of supplying a number of pile threads as a'sheet and a numberof spaced adhesive binders, laying the sheet of pile threads andthebinders across each other and pressing the sheet of threads and binderstogether soA that they adhere and form chenille cloth.

The manner and means whereby the above and other useful objects areattainedv will now be more particularly described with reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic sheets of drawings which illustrate theinvention by way of example and in whichr-h Fig. 1 is an elevation ofapparatus according to preparatory (ci. ,2s-1) the invention, partsbeing broken away and parts being removed in the interests of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section on the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary views of parts not shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a .fragmentary view at right angles t0 Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on the line VII-VII of Fig. 5.- l

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of a gripper hereinafterdescribed.

Fig. 9 shows a fragment of a finished strip of chenille.

Fig. 10 is a modified form of device for applying adhesive to thebinders. f

Figs. 2 to 9 are each drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 1.

The apparatus comprises mainly an intermittently rotatable hollowdrum,10, rollers 11 and 12 for treating a` webof binding threads B withadhesive, a roller 13 for guiding the binders to fthevdrum, a press 14for pressing the pile threads on the binders and a number of guides 15for maintaining the preparatory cloth C in contact with the surface ofthe drum throughout a substantial portion of its rotation. The apparatusillustrated also includes cutting means 16 for cutting the preparatorycloth into strips of chenille in its passage around the drum and meansfor supplying a multiplicity of pile threads. I

The above-mentioned parts will now b'e described 'in greater detail.

The circular surface of the drum is formed with shallow parallel annulargrooves 17 adapted to receive and guide the bindersB, and also with deeprecesses 18 for the cutting means 16 (see Figs. A2 and 7).

y The drum 10 is provided with hollow trunnions, one of which is shownat 20 and eachv of which is journalled in a suitable bearing 21 andwould be fitted with suitable piping (not shown) serving for the supplyand withdrawal of vheating fluid, such as steam. The drum 10 derives itsintermittent rotational movement from any suitable mechanism; forexample, from mechanismv including a Geneva-wheel 22vadapted to impartrotational movements of 60 to the drum 10. 'I'he wheel which drives theGeneva-wheel is denoted by 23, and the driving pin by 23. The wheel 23is secured to a rotary shaft 24 driven from a power-driven main rotarydriving shaft 25 through pairs of bevelgearwheels 26 and 27 and anintermediate shaft 28.

vThe rollers 11, 12 of the adhesive-applying device are located partlyin a container 30 for fluid adhesive, the lower roller 11 having a shaft31 supported at each end to rotate in a bearing 32 and being so disposedthat it dips into the adhesive. The upper roller l2 has at each end aslotted support 33 and is rotatable but free to be raised and loweredinto contact with the roller 11, against which it is normally pressed byits own weight, or otherwise. The shaft 31 is rotated from the mainshaft 25 through the intermediary of intermeshing bevel-gearwheels 34, atransmission shaft 35, bevel-gearwheels 36, a camshaft 37 and achain-and-sprocket drive 38. The arrangement is such that the binders Bcan be led to the guide roller 13 and drum l0 from between the tworollers 11, 12, with the result that the binders are coated withadhesive.

The guide-roller 13 is rotatably mounted at each end in a bearing 39 andis so positioned that it leads the binders B to a part of the drumssurface immediately in advance of the press 14.

The press 14 comprises a'heavy block shaped concave on its ribbed undersurface to conform with the curvature of the drum 10, the effectivearcuate length of the block being at least the same as the linear travelof the drum surface during each rotational movement; this travelA may beabout eighteen inches. The block is operated by the cam-shaft 37 throughthe intermediary of cam-mechanism comprising a groove-cam 37, acam-actuated rod 37b, a pressure plate 37c and springs 37d. Thismechanism, which is preferably provided in duplicate, acts to force theblock 1'4 strongly towards the drum 10, for which purpose the block isvertically slidable with respect to the plate 37. It will thus be seenthat pile threads P drawn in parallel formation below the press andacross the surface of the drum become firmly pressed against the bindersso that they adhere thereto (as atFig. 9).

The guides 15 (see also Fig. 2) consist of flexible steel bands whichare led around an assembly of rotatable rollers 40, 41, 42 and 43, ofwhich the terminal rollers 40 and 43 are disposed close to the curvedsurface of the drum, while one of the intermediate rollers (e. g. theroller 41) has an4 adjustable support 44, or instead acted upon bysprings which force it radially away from the drum, and thus serves tomaintain the bands taut, so that the parts thereof for the time beingextended around the drum press against its surface. Certain or all ofthe rollers 40 to 43 may be formed on their circular surfaces withshallow annular grooves (not shown) which keep the bands 15 properlypositioned in register with the grooves 17 for the binders B. Thefunction of the bands 15 is to receive the preparatory cloth whileincompletely produced just after the stage where the press 14 comes intooperation, and to maintain the cloth with moderate firmness against thesurface of the drum throughout a substantial portion of its rotationalmovement.

The cutting means 16 consists of a series of disc knives secured to arotary shaft 5U, which is driven by a belt-and-pulley drive 51 from themain shaft 25. The knives being spaced apart so that they project intothe recesses 18 (see If desired, one or more of the rollers 40 to 43 fopposite direction.

may be operatively connected to the drum 10 so as to be positivelyrotated in unison therewith, the arrangement being such that the linearspeed of these rollers is substantially the same as that of the drum. Ifdesired however the rollers aforesaid may as shown be free to rotateindependently of the drum, in which event the bands move in unison withthe drum because of the frictional engagement between them and thepreparatory cloth C.

The binders B are led in properly spaced parallel relationship from aroller or beam 52 turning against a frictional drag imposed by a cord,band or chain 53 which is held tightly around a brake-drum 54 on thebeam 52 by the pull of a weighted lever 55. The ultimately cut strips Sof chenille are finally drawn from the apparatus and may be laid in asuitable storage receptacle in a flat condition or they may be Vd in theusual way.

With reference now to the manner in which the pile threads P aresupplied to the apparatus, these threads are led from a suitable sourceof supply to a gripper adapted to move to-and-fro across the spacebetween the drum 10 and press 14 while the latter is raised., Thisgripper, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, may consist of'two superposed jaws60, 6l, each formed as a comb of resilient gripping fingers and eachformed to the curvature of the drum. The lower jaw 6l is secured at bothends to carriages 62 mounted to slide along a pair of rotary shafts 63,and the upper jaw 60v derives vertical opening and closing movementsfrom the rotation of these shafts. The said movements are transmittedfrom each shaft 63 to the adjacent end of the jaw 60 (see Fig. 4)through the intermediary of the following parts, namely:-abevel-gearwheel 64 slidable on the shaft 63, and also rotatabletherewith; a bevel-gearwheel 65, which meshes with the wheel 64; a pairof inter-meshing gearwheels 66 and 67, the former being secured to thesame shaft 68 as the wheel 65, and the wheel 67 being formed long andscrew-threaded internally to act as a nut through which a screw 69 isthreaded, this screw being keyed to the carriage 62 and being thereforenon-rotatable; a bracket 70 slidably mounted on an extension 7l of thewheel 67 and being pressed downwards towards a fixed collar 72 by aspring 73. The shafts 63 are rotated in unison and in alternatelyopposite directions at appropriately timed intervals by the main shaft25 through the intermediary of the following parts, namelyz-a cam 74 onthe shaft 25 (see Fig. 3); a lever 75 fulcrumed at 76 and adapted to berocked by the cam 74, for which purpose the lever has a cam-roller 77which is held against the cam by a spring a pulling on the lever 75; ahorizontally reciprocable bar 78 having two sets of rack-teeth 79 andalso' having a pin-and-slot connection at 80 with the lever 75; pinions81 on the shafts 63, said pinions meshing with the rack-teeth. Theentire arrangement is such that the jaw 60 is raised (and the gripperopened) when the shafts 63 rotate in one direction and is lowered (andthe gripper closed) when these shafts rotate in the It will be seenthat, when the gripper is closed, the jaw BOis pressed tightly down ateach end by an adjacent spring 73. 1

The gear Fig. 4 is in duplicate one at of jaw 60.

The gripper is movable to-and-fro through the space between the drum l0and press' 14 by movements of the carriages 62 along the shafts each end-colours or other characteristic.

rig. 7).

63, such movements also being derived from the main shaft 25 through theintermediary of the following parts, namely:-`-a cam 90 on the shaft 25,a lever 91 with a cam-roller 92 and fulcrumed at 93; averticallyslidable toothed rack 94 havingA a pin-and-slot connection 95with the lever 91; a pinion 9'6 secured to a shaft 97 and meshing withthe rack 94; two sprocket-wheels 98 on the shaft 97 (seeFig. 6); twoother sprocketwheels 99 each journalled on alixed stud 99a; and chains100 on both pairs ofv wheels 98, 99 and connected tothe respectivecarriages 62. The entire arrangement' is such that, when the rack 94 israised, the carriages 62 and the gripper carried thereby move in onedirection-'across the space between the drum l10 and press 14, and that,when the rack islowered, the carriages and gripper move in the oppositedirection.

The gripper works in association with cutting mechanism for severing thedrawn out web o'f pile threads from their source of supply. Suchmechanism may comprise, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, a guillotine cutter101 secured to the supply side of the pressure plate 37c and astationary co-operating cutter 102 secured by bolts- 103 to the frame ofthe apparatus. The cutter 101 has guides 102 .which slide against thecutter'102. In the interests of clearness, the cutting mechanism hasbeen omitted from Fig. 1.

vThe pile threads may be taken from any suitable source of supplyisuchas a beam or bobbins) and passed through a series of carriers whichpresent them in line side-by-side. The pile threads may be of the samecolour or of different colours and may be arranged in appropriatesequence in so far as concerns their The` threads may be led from thesource of supply through a curved guide having means for holding thethreads against return movement and with their ends projecting into thepath of movement of the gripper. For example, the curved guide may beprovided by a series of Vertical carriers 110 each with a smalll opening111 (see Fig. 7) for the passage of a pile thread P and the openingbeing fitted with a small spring 112, which permits the thread to bedrawn through the opening in one direction only (i. e. to the left-in Asshown in Fig. 1, the openings are arranged at the same curvature as thedrum and thus constitute collectively a curved guide frame. Forclearness, only a few of the carriers 110 are shown in Fig. 1, thesecarriers being supported by a cross member 113 of the frame of theapparatus. The carriers collectively present the ends of the pilethreads side-by-side in parallel formation.

Preferably, instead of the carriers having only one opening 111 andbeing fixed, they may'constirtute a selecting frame and have a number ofvertically spaced openings for threads of different colours land bemovable vertically into different positions by the action of a Jacquardor other selecting mechanism (for example, in the manner described inthe Specification of my United States Patent No. 1,804,106 dated May5th, 1931) so that the threads may be presented to the gripper inparallel formation and variable sequence. f

In the operation of the apparatus, the binders B passing in a`webbetween the rollers 11, 12

-are treated with adhesive and guided by the roller l3upon the drum 10into the grooves 17 thereof, the binders extending around the drum asfar as the roller 43, where they pass from the apparatus as partof thestrips S produced thereby. Assuming the` press 14 to be raised,

the gripper 60, 61 advances, seizes the projecting ends of the pilethreads P andfpulls them (see Fig. 7) in a curved web of parallelthreadsacross the drum. The bindershave meantime been in contact with theheated surface of the drum and the adhesive is thereby rendered tacky.The press 14 descends and presses the pile threads with great forceagainst the binders, and at the same time the web of threads is severedfrom its source of supply by the cutters 101, 102 and is also releasedby the gripper. The press ascends after a period of depression lastingfor, say, two seconds, and the drum is given a rotational movement of 60by the mechanism 21-28, during which the pile threads and length ofbinders acted upon by the press are advanced and pass into engagementwith the guides 15. At the same time, a new length of the bindersalready treated with adhesive is drawn into position below the press.The above cycle is continuouslyv repeated, so that the cloth C composedof the binders and pile threads passes step-by-step between the drum 10and bands 15. In the passage of the/cloth, it encounters the knives 16,which cut it between each two adjacent binders into strips of chenille.The cutting action assisted by the pressure on the pile threads of thebands 15 between the knives. The passage of the preparatory cloth andstrips between the bands and drum isof suiiiciently long duration toensure that the adhesive will become thoroughly hard and dry and thepile threads securely fixed to the binders.

Where the binders are composed of tapes instead of threads theadhesive-applying device is so arranged that the tapes are treated withadhesive only on the side which receives the pile threads, no freeadhesive being accordingly exposedvon the face of the preparatory clothor on the strips of chenille. An arrangement for treating binding tapesin this manner is shown in Fig. 10, in which it will be seen that thebinders B pass between two rollers 120, 121, the latter of whichreceives adhesive from a roller 122 dipping into a trough 123 ofadhesive.

Further, binders may be applied at both sides of the preparatory cloth.

The provision of the cutting mechanism is not essential and could beomitted from the apparatus. In this event the apparatus would then vthethreads and binders being relatively adhesive, and then pressing thethreads and binders together so as to cause them to adhere and form thepreparatory cloth.

2. A method of manufacturing preparatory cloth for cutting into stripsof chenil1e,`com prising the operations of supplying a number of pilethreads and laying them side-by-side on a support, supplying a series ofbinders and laying them transversely of said pile threads, the threadsand binders being relatively adhesive, then pressing the threads andbinders together so as to cause them to adhere and form the preparatorycloth, and then cutting oil' the pile threads from the source of supply.

3. A method of manufacturing preparatory cloth for cutting into stripsof chenille, cornprising the operations of supplying a number of pilethreads in parallel formation side-byside as a closed sheet, supplying aseries of binders in parallel formation side-by-side as an open sheetand laying them transversely of said pile threads, said threads andbinders being relatively adhesive, and pressing, the sheets of threadsand binders together so as to cause them to adhere and form thepreparatory cloth.

4.A method of manufacturing preparatory cloth for cutting into strips ofchenille, comprising the operations of supplying a number of pilethreads in parallel formation side-by-side as a sheet, supplying aseries of adhesive binders in parallel formation side-by-side and layingthem transversely of said pile threads, pressing the threads and binderstogether so as to cause them to adhere and then cutting off the pilethreads from their source of supply.

5. A method of manufacturing chenille, comprising the operations ofsupplying a number of pile threads in parallel formation side-byside,supplying a series of adhesive binders in parallel formationside-by-side and laying them transversely of said pile threads, pressingthe threads and binders together so as to cause them to adhere, thusforming a preparatory cloth, cutting off the pile threads from theirsource of supply, and finally cutting said cloth between the bindersinto strips of chenille.

6. A method of manufacturing preparatory cloth for cutting into stripsof chenille, comprising the operations of supplying a number of pilethreads in parallel formation side-byside, supplying a series of spacedparallel binders, treating the binders with an adhesive, guiding theminto a press, pulling a series of pile threads transversely over thebinders, operating the press to force the pile threads into closecontact with the binders, and to adhere thereto, cutting the pilethreads from their source of supply and thereafter feeding forward thepile threads and binders as a piece of cloth.

'7. A method of manufacturing chenille, cornprising the operations ofsupplying a number of pile threads in parallel formation side-byside,supplying a series of spaced parallel binders, treating the binders withan adhesive, guiding them into a press, pulling a series of pile threadstransversely over the web of binders, operating the press to force thepile threads into close contact with the binders, and to adhere thereto,thus forming a preparatory clothr cutting the pile threads from theirsource of supply and thereafter cutting the cloth of'pile threads andbinders into strips of chenille.

8. A method of manufacturing preparatory cloth for cu'tting'into stripsof chenille, comprising the operations of supplying a number of pilethreads in parallel formation side-byside, supplying a series of spacedparallel binders, treating the binders with an adhesive, guiding theminto a heated press, pulling a series of pile threads transversely overthe binders, operating the press to force the pile threads into closecontact with the binders, and to adhere thereto, cutting the pilethreads from their source of supply and thereafter feeding forward theadhering pile threads and binders as a piece of cloth.

9. A method of manufacturing chenille which comprises the followingoperations namely: gripping the projecting ends of a number of pilethreads, pulling out these threads a certain distance over a support,treating with adhesive a series of binders, supplying said binderstransversely of said pile threads, applying heat to said binders,pressing with considerable force the threads and binders together so asto 'cause them to adhere and form preparatory cloth, cutting off thepulled-out pile threads from their source of supply, applying pressurewith less considerable force to said cloth, continuing to apply heatthereto, and cutting said cloth between the binders into strips ofchenille.

10. A method of manufacturing chenille which comprises the followingoperations, namely: gripping the projecting ends of a number of pilethreads, pulling out these threads a certain distance over a support,supplying a series of binders transversely of said pile threads, saidthreads and binders being relatively adhesive, applying heat to saidbinders, pressing with considerable force the threads and binderstogether on the support so as to cause them to adhere and formpreparatory cloth, cutting off the pulled-out pile threads from theirsource of supply, applying pressure with less considerable force to saidcloth, continuing to apply heat thereto, and cutting said cloth betweenthe binders into strips of chenille.

ll. Apparatus for manufacturing chenille preparatory cloth, comprising asupport, means for guiding binders over said support, means for holdingthe ends of a number of pile threads in the vicinity of said support,said threads and binders being relatively adhesive, gripper means forseizing said ends and pulling the threads across said support, a pressforforcing said blnders and threads together against said support sothat they adhere and form preparatory cloth, and means between saidholding means and said support* for cutting off the pulled-out threads.

12. Apparatus formanufacturing chenille preparatory cloth comprising ahollow support, means on sadsrupport servingfor admission of vheatingfluid to the hollow interior thereof, means for guiding a number ofspaced binders over said support, means for holding the ends of a numberof pile threads in the vicinity of said supportfsaid threads and bindersbeing rel-r atively adhesive, gripper means for seizing said threads andpulling them out in a sheet across said support, a press for forcingsaid binders and threads together against said support so that theyadhere and'form preparatory cloth, and means between said holding meansand said support for cutting off the pulled-out threads.

13. Apparatus for manufacturing chenille preparatory cloth, comprising asupport, means for guiding binders over said support, a roller devicefor applying adhesive to said binders, means for holding the ends of. anumber of pile threads in the vicinity of said support, gripper meansfor seizing said threads and pulling them across said support, a pressmounted in the vicinity of said support, cam-mechanism including springmeans for forcing said press towards said support to make the bindersand threads adhere and form preparatory cloth, and means between saidholding means and said support for cutting off the pulled-out threads.

14. Apparatus for manufacturing chenille preparatory cloth, comprising asupport, means for guiding a number of spaced binders over said support,a roller device for applying adhesive to said binders, means for holdingthe ends of a number of lpile threads in the vicinity of said support, agripper mounted in the vicinity of said support, mechanism for closingand opening said gripper to `seize and release said thread ends,mechanism for moving said gripper across said support to seize and pullout said threads across said binders, a press mounted in the vicinity ofsaid support, cam-mechanism including spring means for forcing saidpress towards said support to make the binders and threads adhere andform preparatory cloth. and means between said holding means and saidsupport for cutting oir the pulled-out threads.

15. Apparatus for manufacturing chenille preparatory cloth, comprising asupport, means for guiding a web of adhesively treated binders over saidsupport, means for holding the ends of a number of pile threads in thevicinity of said support, a gripper mounted in the vicinity of saidsupport, mechanism for closing and opening said gripper to seize andrelease said thread ends, mechanism for moving said gripper across saidsupport to seize and pull out said threads across said binders, a pressfor forcing said binders and threads together against said support sothat they adhere and form preparatory cloth, and means between saidholding means and said support for cutting oir the pulled-out threads.

16. Apparatus for manufacturing chenille, comprising a hollow support,means on said support serving for admission of heating fluid to thehollow interior thereof, means for guiding a number of spaced bindersover said support, means for holding the ends of a number of pilethreads in the vicinity of said support, said threads and binders beingrelatively adhesive, gripper means for seizing said threads and pullinghem out in a sheet across said support, a press for forcing said bindersand threads together against said support so that they adhere and formpreparatory cloth, means between said holding means and said support forcutting off the pulled-out threads, means for moving said clothstep-by-step over said support, means for applying sustained pressure tosaid cloth against said support, and means for cutting the cloth intostrips of chenille.

17. Apparatus for manufacturing chenille preparatory cloth comprising arotatable drum, mechanism for rotating said drum Step-by-Step, means forguiding a number of spaced binders to said drum. means for holding theends of a number of pile threads in a curved row, said threads andbinders being relatively adhesive, a curved gripper mounted in thevicinity of said drum, mechanism for closing and opening said gripper toseize and release said thread ends, mechanism for moving said gripperacross said drum to seize and pull out said pile threads in a curvedsheet, a press for forcing said binders and threads together againstsaid drum so that they adhere and form the preparatory cloth, and meansfor cutting off the pile threads when pulled out.

18. Apparatus for manufacturing chenille comprising a rotatable drumwith a heatable surface, mechanism for rotating said drum stepby-step,means for guiding spaced binders to said drum, means for holding theends of a number of pile threads in a curved row. side-byside, saidthreads and binders being relatively adhesive, a curved gripper mountedin the vicinity of said drum, mechanism for closing and opening saidgripper to seize and release said thread ends, mechanism for moving saidgripper 'said drum so that they adhere and form preparatory cloth, meansfor cutting off the pile threads when pulled out. and resilient bandsfor maintainingsaid cloth against the surface of said drum, with orwithout means serving to cut the cloth into strips of chenille.

19. Apparatus for manufacturing chenille comprising a hollow rotatabledrum, bearing means on said drum serving for admission of heating fluidto the hollow interior thereof, mechanism for rotating said drumstep-by-step, means for guiding binders to said drum to movestep-by-step therewith, means for holding the ends of a number of pilethreads in a curved row side-by-side, said threads and binders beingrelatively adhesive, a curved gripper mounted in the vicinity of saiddrum', mechanism for closing and opening said gripper to seize andrelease said thread ends, mechanism for moving said gripper across saiddrum to seize and pull out said pile threads in a curved sheet, a curvedblock mounted in the vicinity of said drum, cammechanism includingspring-means for forcing said block towards said drum to press thebinders and threads together so that they adherek and form preparatorycloth, means for cutting off the pile threads when pulled out, means formaintaining said cloth against the surface of said drum, and knivesserving to cut the cloth into strips of chenille.

20. Apparatus for manufacturing chenille comprising a hollow rotatabledrum, bearing means on said vdrum serving for admission of heating fluidto the hollow interior thereof, mechanism for rotating said drumstep-by-step, means for guiding a number of parallel spaced binders tosaid drum to move step-by-step there;

With, means for treating said binders with adhesive, means forpresenting the ends of a nume ber of pile threads side-by-side in acurved row, a curved gripper mounted in the vicinity of said drum,mechanism for closing and opening said gripper to seize and release saidthread ends. mechanism for moving said gripper across said drum to seizeand pull out said pile threads in a curved sheet, a curved block mountedin the vicinity of said drum, cam-mechanism in cluding spring-means forforcing said block towards said drum to press the binders and threadstogether so that they adhere and form preparatory cloth, a cutter forcutting ofi the pile threads after being pulled out, resilient bands formaintaining said cloth against the surface of said drum, means formoving said bands in unison with said drum, and a gang of rotary knivesand recesses therefor in the drum, said knives -serving to cut the clothinto strips of chenille'.

21. A strip of chenille consisting of a succession of coplanar parallelpile .tufts of the same length and a straight longitudinal Ibinder towhich the piletufts are adhesively secured midway of their length andwhich extends along one side of the pile tuft plane.

22. A method of manufacturing preparatory cloth for cutting into stripsof chenille, comprising the operations of supplying a number of pilethreads as a sheet and a number of spaced adhesive binders, laying thesheet of pile threads and the binders across each other and pressing thesheet of threads and binders together so that they adhere and formchenille preparatory cloth.

23. A method of manufacturing preparatory cloth for cutting into stripsof chenille, comprising the operations of supplying a number of pilethreads as a sheet and a number' of spaced adhesivc binders, laying thesheet of pile threads and the binders across each other and applyingpressure and heat to the threads and binders so that they adhere andform chenille preparatory cloth.

24. Chenille preparatory cloth comprising a sheetof pile threads and anumber of spaced binders arranged to extend straight across said pilethreads and secured to said threads solely by adhesive.

25. Chenille preparatory cloth comprising a sheet of closely arrangedparallel transverse pile threads and longitudinal binders which arespaced apart and are arranged to extend straight across said pilethreads and are secured to said threads solely by adhesive.

26. A strip of chenille consisting of a succession of pile tufts securedsolely by adhesive to a central straight binder across one side of whichbinder all the pile tufts extend, their ends projecting straight fromsaid binder.

27, A strip of chenille consisting of parallel and coplanar pile tuftssecured solely by adhesive to a longitudinal binder extending straightacross the tufts.

JAMES MORTON.

